Selector



July 1, 1941.

w. S. ROTHERHAM 2,247,733

SELECTOR y l Filed Nov. 22, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTEIRNYM July 13 1941- l w. s. ROTHERHAM 2,247,733 --SELEQTOR Filedgnov. 2g, 1940 .2 sheetsfsheet 2 Walter aRoherham.

INVEN'roR BW? ATTRNE Patented July 1, 1941 SELECTOR Walter S. Rotherham, Lincoln Park, N. J., assignor to Hermas Machine Company, Hawthorne,

N. J., a corporation Application November 22, 1940, Serial No. 366,752

8 Claims.

. This'invention relates-generally to means for controlling the operation of a machine employing multiple drives. Its general purpose is to provide a device` for automatically `stopping and starting the-operation of a part of a machine so as to interrupt its function. A further object of the invention is to provide a sensitive detector mechanism actuated by the changing characteristics of the material being processed in the machine, for controlling such a device. A further object of the invention is to provide means vfor consecutively or selectively stopping and starting a plurality of operations within a predetermined period after the material being processed has caused a detector to function. I

It is especially adapted for controlling the op eration of the independently driven cutting units on a textile shearing machine. In this application the device is described and illustrated as employed on such a machine wherein the detector and selector are used in combination. In such a machine the-fabric passes over, and in contact with a series of cutting units, which must be stopped consecutively as a seam passes through the machine. The purposeof the proposed deviceris to detect a seam inthe cloth prior to its reachingfa cutting unit, `then momentarily stop said cutting unit as the seam passes it, and then immediately start the cutting unit in operation again.- When a series of such cutting units are employed on a single machine the purpose of the selector'is to independently control ea'ch unit in consecutive `order as the seam passes'progressively through the entire machine.

A further purpose of the device is to provide means whereby the operation of the detector and selector by one seam, will not allow the second of two seams coming close together on a fabric being processed', vto pass through the machine without proper detection ofthe second Vseam and functioning'ofthe selector. Ifv such a provision were not madethe second-seam would clash with the revolving cutting unit causing serious damage to the fabric or even to the machine itself because of its high speed. 4 Y

Other objectsand f advantages of the invention will be pointed out in the detailed description to follow when read in conjunction with the drawings, in whichj Fig. 1 is aside elevational view illustrating the invention vapplied to a textile shearing machine.

Fig.- 2 is a wiring diagram of the detector circuit. j

Fig. 3 is a wiring'diagramof the selector circuit.

Y ing the plurality of cutting units.

- Fig. 4 is a wiring diagram Yof Athe-motor control unit or reversing circuits. Y

Fig. 5 is a front elevational view partly in section of the selector device. Y

Fig. 6 is a front elevational view of the clutch disc in section on the vertical axis.

Fig. '7 is 'a side elevational view of the cam drum showing the cam strips and the relative positions of the selector switches.

Y Fig. 8 is a section on line 8-8 Fig. 'I of the cam drum. y

In general this invention provides a device for starting and stopping independently the respective drives on a multiple drive machine, and controlled by the material being processed. It comprises three units in combination, namely a detector, a selector and a motor control unit. In this application the structure is illustrated as employed on a textile shearing machine. 'Ihe function of the 'detector is to start the selector operating when a seam in the fabric comes in Contact with the detector roll. The function of the selector is fundamentally that of a time switch for controlling the period of operation of the motor control unit. The function of the motor control unit is to stop and start the motor drives within the time period allowed by the selector.

In detail the deviceas illustrated in Fig. 1 operates as follows. A fabric Il to be sheared enters at the left, passes varound. the selector driving roll I2, and then comes in contact with the detector roll I5. After passing the detector roll the fabric comes in contact with the first cutting unit 2i), the second cutting unit 30 and eventually is wound on a take-up roll after passdriving roll I2 is geared through pinions I3 to the selector driving shaft I9 (Fig. 5). vThe standard motor drive forrsaid fabric take-up roll and selector driving roll I2 are not shown in the drawings. i' Y The detector roll I5,v is radially supported on the arm I6 which is pivoted to the frame I8. YSaid .arm I 6 carriesvthe detector switch I 'I which is normally open. As the seam 31 in the fabric being processed comes in contact with the detector roll I5 the arm I6 is moved to the right thereby closing switch I1 Fig. 1 and the detector circuit. When switch I'I is closed the detector solenoid 4U (Figs. 2 and 5') is energizedv which starts the mechanical-electrical selector device I4 Fig. 5 operating. f

The function of the selector device is to mechanically open and close the selector switches The selector vsaid shaft i3.

(28, 29, 38, and 39) which are connected in the primary or operating circuit of the motor control units 23 and 33. Therefore, the closing of the detector solenoid 40 operates the selector and causes the said motor control unit 23 to function whereby the motor 2| and the cutting unit 20 are brought to an immediate stop. Instantly thereafter (the seam 31 having passed cutting unit 20), the motor is started in a forward direction and the cutting unit again put in operation. Before the seam 31 reaches the cutting unit 30, the selector causes the motor control unit 33 to func-Y tion and stop motor 3|. When the said seam 31 has passed cutting unit 30 the motor 3| is again energized for forward rotation.

The motor control unit includes means for reversing the direction of the current in the motor in order to provide a braking effect and cause the motor to decelerate rapidly. The motor must be brought from full speed forward to a static condition within the seconds time that a seam would pass from the detector roll |5 to the cutting. unit 26 driven by said motor 2|. The motor control unit also includes means 13 forl opening the reversing circuit as soon as the motor stops so as not to allow the cutting unit to rotate in the reverse direction. If this were not provided the cutting unit would rotate in the reverse direction so long as switch 1| remained closed or until the selector completed its cycle. Means for opening such a circuit is frequently provided in the form of a centrifugal switch 13 of the mer'- cury type. In this type a drop of mercury is thrown by centrifugal force against the contacts of a switch in the circuit. When the rotation stops the mercury ows away from the contacts thus opening the circuit.

The selectorcircuits as illustrated in Fig. 3 comprise the primary switches 28 and 38 in series respectively with the secondary switches 29 and .39 connected to a power source through leads 26 and 36. When either primary selector switch 28 or the-secondary selector switch 29 is opened the motor control unit 23 is operated to inc mentarily stop the` motor 2| and cutting unit as explained above. In the same way switches 38 and 39 indirectly control the second cutting unit 36. The closing and opening of said switches is lcontrolled by the mechanical-electrical device termed a selector and illustrated in Fig. 5. comprises a shaft I9 driven by gears |3 (Fig. 1) from selector driving roll 2. 'Ihe speeds of the cloth and the selector device must be in positive relationship since their functions are controlled by a relative time element. Two clutch discs 45 and 55 are keyed or splined to shaft I9. Said discs are adapted to slide axially on shaft |9, and frictionally engage and drive the cam drums .46and respecvtively which are journalled on The ldrum 46carries cam strip 41 which is adapted to operate primary selector switches 23 and 33 as the said drum is rotated byfri ctiona l engagement with clutch disc 45. Similarly, cam strip 51 on drum 56 is adapted to operate secondary selector switches 29 and 39. ASaid selector switches are supported by the frame 21.

The cam strips 41 and 51 may be made of any desired length according to the period of time selector switches 28, 29, 33 and 39 are to beheld open. Either the position of the selector switches on the frame 21 o r the position of the cam strips `on the periphery of the cam drums may be ad,-

.justed forcontrolline the time ,Qfpoienne and Closing- Qf said switches. 1 I

The detailed mechanical-electrical operation of the selector unit |4 is as follows: When the solenoid 40 (Fig. 5) is energized the bell crank 4| is rotated clockwise about its pivot 43. During this operation, the bell crank which is formed at one end into a yoke and provided with pins 42 adapted to ride in annular groove 14 moves the disc to the right along the key 48 or spline thus engaging the friction'face (i2 of the said disc with the side of the drum 46. At the same time the roller 44 is moved downward out of the curved slot 49 in said drum 46. the drum 46 rotates in unison with the disc 45 which carries the cam strip 41 into contact first with primary selector switch 28 and then with primary selector switch 38, as illustrated in Fig. '1.

After the detector switch |1 has been closed by .a seam 31 and the selector |4 placed in operation the cycle of said selector is complete when the drum 46 has made a complete revolution. The rotation of said drum 45 is confined to one complete revolution because of the control of the clutch lock roller 4 4 operating in conjunction with slot 4S on the periphery ofthe said drum 46. s the solenoid 4|) is momentarily energized and the bell crank 4| swung in a clockwise direction about its pivot 4 3, the clutch lock roller 44 is swung downward and out of the slot 449 in drum 46. This same operation of the bell crankl moves the disc 45 into frictional driving contact with drum 46- whereby the disc and drum rotate in `unison. When the solenoid is @energized the b ll Crnli ,4| is urged a 001.111- ter-clockwise direction under the influence lof spring 53. Since the d rnm 46 is already rotating, said roller 44 is riding on the surface of the drum 46 which prevents the bell crank 4| from returning to its ynormal position. During the time the roller 44 rolls along the periphery of the drum 46 it maintains the clutch disc 45 locked in driving contact with said drinn. When the drum 46 has completed its revolution the rolier 44 drops back into slot 4S .under influence of the spring 63, the bell crank 4| shifts the clutch disc 45 to the left (Fig. 5) thereby breaking the driving contact and stopping the Yrotation of the drum 45. As pointed out above the drum 46r continues to rotate until the roller 44 drops into slot 49 at the end of `one ycomplete revolption. However if it is desirable for the @wel i@ @replete its .cycle and stop rotating at the end of hiaif a macon vif ,1ro degrees, .when

two slots 49 must be placed on the periphery o f the drum, V180 degrees apart.

ihus in the above described operation I have erzplained how the selector operates when a single Seam Passes ihfoligl? .the shearing machine. ',If two seams occur close together in the fabric so that the second seam might passl the detector befoe @he @Qml'in Of .the slector Cycle) the 010e? @Pion 0f the 59.161.10.161 5.0 WQUld hv noeelect thereon. To prevent trrnible4 arisinglfrom ya sec- .Qnsl .Seam @altering the machine in such a man: ner, a `secondary or auxiliary `selector circuit is provided. As drum 46 is rotated-,during the preliminary operation as explained above, the auxiliary 5.0113519@ SWC?? 5.9 .(Fgls.- ;2, 53nd Dv located in the aukiliary detector circuitis Closed by means of the cam ringv y6| and is maintained in said C1956@ Position throughout. .the Cycle bf. Queration of the primary selector unit. -By referring .t0 Fis- 7 ,it will be Seen that @am ring 5| 'encompasses the drum 46 except for the slight opening er .break :15 @H2116 29P- lh Position 0f the fs'id switch in the auxiliary 'detector 'circuit'.

As a result .spectively would have to be provided on the sec- 1 ond drum 56. The added'switch .would have to shown in Fig. 2. When said auxiliary solenoid switch 60' is closed, a second seam which closed the main detector switch |,1 would energize the .solenoid 50 and thus start the secondary selector unit into operation.

The energizing of solenoid 50 would .move bell crank on its pivot 53 and force clutch disc 55 axially along its key or spline 58 into driving contact with drum'56 and cause the drum to rotate. By contact with the surface ofdrum 56, the cycle of the secondary selector unit would be completed in one revolution similar to the primary selector unitdescribed above. However if it were predetermined to set the period of operation or cycle so as to provide for rotation of the drum through one third of a circle, then three slots 59 would be `required in drum 56 'and spaced 120 degrees apart.` As the drum 56 rotates it would first openselector switch 29 and then selector switch 39 similar to the operation of the primary selector circuit.' At the end of its cycle spring 64 would return bell crank 5| to its normal position. Y I 11 The motor operatingfunit or reversing circuit illustrated in Fig. 4 comprises an operating circuit (termed a selector circuit above) provided with a relay 65 and leads 24 and 25 v(Figs. 3 and 4) connected in'series to the selector switches 28 and 29. The relay 65 is normally energized and retains the three switches 66 connected to the power leads 69 and the motor terminals E8 in a closed position for driving the polyphase motor 2| in a forward or clockwise direction. When either of the selector switches 28 or 29 is opened the relay` 65 is deenergized andl the said switches 66 drop thereby opening said forward motor circuit. VDuring the same operation in which switches 66 are opened the reversing relay circuit switch 1| is closed which in turn energizes the relay which is connected to the power leads 12. The energizing of relay 1|! closes the motor reversing switches 61 which automatically brakes the motor. When the motor stops the centrifugal switch 13, which is rotatively linked to the motor 2|, automatically opens thereby deenergizing relay 10, which in turn opensA reversing switches 61 for preventing the cutting unit driving motor 2| from actually rotating in a reverse direction. As the selector i4 completes its cycle the relay 65 Fig. 5 is reenergiz-ed which closes switches 66 whereby the cutting unit motor 2| is again started in a forward direction.

Since the primary and secondary switches 28 and 29 are connected in series, the opening of either switch will in :turn open the circuit used for driving'the motors in a forward direction. For practical purposes, two selector units are sufcient on the assumption that it would be unusual for three seams to be placed so close together in a fabric that the function of the primary selector circuit Would not be completed before a third seam passed the detector roll.

However the number of said circuits may bev increased by merely `adding additional selector units without departing from my invention.

If three selector units are provided for guarding against three adjacent seams in a fabric the detector unit would be provided with an additional parallel branch simil-ar to parts 60 and 50 in Fig. 2. The mechanism (5D-59) shown on the right of frame 21 Fig. 5 would be repeated and a third switch would be placed in each series circuit with switches 28-29 and 38-39. A

be connected in series with the rst switch 60 -so .that the third selector unit can onlyfunction of saidunits maybe increased as desired. If

three cutting units are employed three selector switches in place of two (28 and 38, or 29 and 39) would be provided on frame 21 and adapted to be operated by cam strip 41 or 51. .The two circuits illustrated in Fig. 3 would be increased to three circuits. f

.I claim: i

1. In a device of thetype described the combination of a drive shaft, adrum journalled on said shaft, cam strips fastened to the periphery of said'drum andA adapted to open and close electrical circuits, a slot in the periphery of said drum, a clutch disc splined to said shaft for driving said drum,'a bell crank, means carried by said bell crank for axially moving'said clutch disc on said shaft into driving engagement with saiddrum, kand a roller carried by said bell crank and adapted to roll on the surface of the rotating drum forretaining said clutch disc in driving engagement with said drum and enter said slot for stopping said rotation.

2. In a device of the type described the combination of a drive shaft, a drum journalled on said shaft, a slot in the periphery of said drum, a clutch disc splined to said shaft for driving said drum, a bell crank, means carried by said bell crank for axially moving said clutch disc on said shaft into driving engagement with said drum, and a roller carried by said bell crank and adapted to roll on :the surface of the rotating drum for retaining said clutch disc in driving engagement with said drum and enter said slot for stopping saidk rotation.

3. In a device of the type described the combination of a drive shaft, a drum journalled on said shaft, a slo-t in the periphery of said drum,

a clutch disc splined to said shaft for driving said drum, and a linkage adapted to move said clutch disc into driving engagement with said drum, and means carried by said linkage and 'adapted to maintain the driving engagement during the cycle of operation and enter said slot at the end of said cycle for terminating the driving engagement and stopping the rotation l erating.

switch and cam Vring similar to 60 and 6| re- 75 and secondary clutch discs splined to said shaft for driving their respective drums, a detector circuit for moving the primary selector unit clutch disc.' into driving engagement with its drum, an auxiilary detector circuit for moving;

the Secondary selectorunit clutch disc into driving engagement With its drum, and means operated by the primary selector unit for limi-ting the functioning of the vauxiliary detector circuit to the period during which the primary selector unit isinoperation. l v

.6. A device for controlling theroperation of a multiple cutting unit textile shearing machine comprising, a detector unit actuated'by a seam in the .cloth being processed "on said machine, la

'selector unit including a drive shaft, a drum journalled on said shaft, `a slot in theV periphery of said drum, a clutch disc splin'ed' to said shaft 7. A device for controlling the. opf'aration` of a 1 multiple cutting unit textile shearing .machine comprising, a detector unitK actuated by a seam in the cloth being processed on saidmachine, a

aanwas .selector unit including a drive shaft, a drum ljournalled' on saidshaft, a clutch disc splined to'i said shaft for driving said drum, .means actu xatedvlby lsaid detectorunit for moving said clutch disc into driving engagement with said drum, means' controlled by said drum for retaining -the clutch disc in driving engagement with said drumf during the cycle of operation, a motor operating unit including, circuits controlled by said selector Aunitor driving the cutting unit motors forward and reversing the current for braking said motors,V and means controlled by the rotation ',of said motors for opening the rejverse current circuits when the motor stops.

8 A device of the type described including a drive shaft,` a driving element mounted on said shaft and adapted to rotate therewith, a driven element normally retained in a non-rotative condition, va sloltl in said driven element, a linkage for engaging `the elements in driving rela-tion, 'and means coupled with said linkage and operated bysaidfdrven element for maintaining said elements in driving relationthroughoutthe cycle of operation, said means" being adapted to enter `the slot in the driven element whereby said `elements are disengaged and the driven member 'brought to vrest at the end of said cycle.

WALTER s. ROTHERHAM. 

